Scoring and folding mechanisms of an envelope making machine and drive therefor



J. w. LENK 3,186,315 SCORING AND FOLDING MECHANISMS OF AN ENVELOPE June 1, 1965 MAKING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Original Filed May 7, 1962 4 SheetsSheet 1 w w w 31 oooooo INVENTOR. k/a me: (M Len/r fan/5W ATTOR/Vfy June 1, 1965 J. w. LENK 3,186,316

SCORING AND FOLDING MECHANISMS OF AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Original Filed May '7, 1962 4 Sheets-rSheet 2 INVENTOR. J me: 11/. Lenk ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 J. w. LENK 3,186,316 SCORING AND FOLDING MECHANISMS OF AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Original Filed May 7, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Q IQ \'1 o QQ g k N I a [U n x 5- a k m R INVENTOR. E; James M Lenk Q i 3 3 c- MW AT 7' ORA/5 X J. w. LENK 3,186,316 SCORING AND FOLDING MECHANISMS OF AN ENVELOPE June 1, 1965 MAKING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 7,

United States Patent 3,186,316 SCORING AND FOLDING MECHANISMS OF AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE AND DRIVE THEREFOR James W. Lenk, Shawnee Mission, Kans., assignor to Berkley Machine Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Continuation of application Ser. No. 192,783, May 7,

1962. This application Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 391,356

17 Claims. (CI. 93-62) This invention relates to rotary envelopemaking machines, and particularly to the flap scoring, gumming and folding mechanisms, and has for its principal object to provide an improved drive for such mechanisms to facilitate adjustment and timing thereof when setting up to make envelopes of a different size, the present application being a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 192,783, filed May 7, 1962, now abandoned.

For example, in the customary high speed rotary envelope making machine, the mechanism for scoring the top and bottom flaps, the mechanism for folding over the side flaps, the mechanism for folding the bottom flap, and the mechanism for folding the top flap, are all driven from a common drive, so that when a run of envelopes of a certain size has been completed and the machine is to be adjusted for making a different size envelope, the mechanisms must each be individually adjusted and subsequently timed so that the operations performed thereby will be in proper position and in time with the travel of the blanks therethrough. If the mechanisms are not accurately timed and operated in properly timed relation, imperfectly formed envelopes will result.

Therefore, to make perfect envelopes of different desired sizes, the respective adjustments are extremely critical and they are difficult to get in timed relation with the travel of the blanks without making many readjustments until all mechanisms are operating in proper sequence. Consequently, a great amount of time by an expert mechanic, highly skilled in the envelope making field, is required to make such adjustments. Moreover, the envelope making machine is out of production and incapable of producing envelopes while the many adjustments and readjustments are being made. Thus the cost of making envelopes of different sizes is increased over the cost of making envelopes of like size, when the machine may be kept in operation. However, in most envelope making establishments, a run of one size and style of envelope is insufficient to keep the machine in operation, consequently, there must be shutdown periods between periods of operation to keep the sale of such envelopes in balance with the output. Also, such machines require a substantial space in the factory and the initial cost results in too large an investment to have the machines idle. This objection to existing equipment has been overcome by the present invention through the Provision of means by which envelope machines can be kept in substantially continuous operation by making simple and quick adjustments for the production of envelopes of different sizes and styles.

The present invention avoids lengthy shutdowns by providing driving mechanisms that are simply and easily adjusted for producing envelops of different size and style by coupling the top flap scoring mechanism, the top flap folding mechanism, and the envelope delivery mechanism to one common drive, and coupling the bottom flap scoring mechanism with the bottom flap folding mechanism to another common drive, whereby one of the drives may i be adjusted relatively to the other drive when changing from one size and/ or style of envelope to another. Thus one of the drives may be disconnected from the other drive and turned to a different relation with the other for making the initial adjustment necessary to change 3,185,316- Patented June 1, 1965 be carried out by simply rotating one of the drives to a.

proper position for making one of the scores, then rotating the other drive so that the scoring mechanism driven thereby operates to make the second score in a blank the required distance from the first score, after which the two shafts are connected by a common actuating mechamsm.

In accomplishing the above and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the successive steps involved in treating envelope blanks in accordance with the present invention, and their relation to the mechanisms of FIG. 2 by which the steps are performed.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of an envelope making machine equipped with driving mechanisrns in accordance with the present invention, having means whereby the machine may be readily set up for making different size envelopes.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the successive steps involved in treating envelope blanks, but relating them to the rotary elements that are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the envelope making machine, illustrating the rotary mechanisms used to convey and operate upon envelope blanks.

FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 4 on a larger scale to illustrate clearly the bottom flap and seal flap folding mechanisms of the machine.

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the envelope making machine taken through the side flap folding section on the line 66 of FIG. 2, as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the gearing for making the initial adjustment between the drive shafts that operate the mechanisms related to the respective top and bottom flap scoring mechanisms.

' FIG. 8 is a front view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7 and illustrates the means for connecting the ad-- justable shaft to its actuating gear.

FIG. 9 is a cross section of the envelope making machine taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2 and looking in the opposite direction to the section of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a detailed section on the line 10-40 of FIG. 7, to better illustrate the connecting gears.

FIG. 11 is a detail view, in elevation, showing means for effecting fine adjustments in the relative timing of said driving connections.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a portion of a rotary envelope making machine from which envelope blanks a are delivered from a closure flap gumming and drying section of the machine, notshown. The envelope blanks a are delivered from the section 1 in squamiform or overlapped relation to the folding section 2 on conveyor belts 3, with the bottom flap portions b leading and the gummed closure flap portions c trailing, with bottom flaps b of a foremost blank leading the following blank by a little more than the width of the gum on the closure flaps and with the side flap portions d and e extending laterally. The blanks a are separated on movement into the folding section 2 and moved in timed spaced apart relation to a closure flap scoring mechanism I. The separating mechanism may be any of the well known separating means, such as segment rollers 4 operating at higher peripheral speed than theconveyor belts 3 and cooperating with backing rollers 4' (FIG. 4) that seize therebetween the forward projecting edge of a foremost blank to initiate withdrawal thereof. The high speed withdrawalis continued by pressure rollers 4" also acting on rollers 4 and'4. The chains 5 carry pins 6 projecting therefrom to engage the rear portions of the individual blanks that are retarded by brushes 6'. Thus the blanks are timed and spaced apart according to the spacing o the pins 6.

The scoring mechanism I includes upper and lower scoring rollers 7 and 8, the upper of which carries a scoring blade 7' for making transverse bottom scores f across the blanks to define the bottom edges of the back panels g. The scoring rollers 7 and 8 are fixed to shafts 9 and 10, respectively, which have the ends there- 'of suitably journaled in the side frames 1111 of the section 2.

From the scoring mechanism I, the blanks are advanced by a second set of conveying rollers 12, aided by pressure rollers 13, to a bottom flap scoring mechanism II which includes upper and lower scoring rollers 14 and 15, whereby the top edge of the back panel g of each envelope blank is defined by a score h produced by a scoring blade 16 on the upper scoring roller 14. The rollers 14 and are also fixed to transverse shafts 17 and 18 having similar mounting in the side frames 11-41.

From the scoring mechanism II, the blanks are further advanced by a series of lower conveying rollers 19 and upper pressure rollers 20 through a conventional side flap folding mechanism III including side flap folders 21 and 22, by which the side flaps d and e of the successive blanks are folded inwardly over stationary rails (not shown) onto the back panel g. The folders 21 and 22 are reciprocated by cranks 23 and 24 oscillated by links 25 and 26 operated by gearing contained in a casing 27. The gearing (not shown) is driven by a gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 on a driving shaft 30 (FIG. 6).

From the driving mechanism III the envelope blanks are advanced through a conventional gumming mechanism IV by which gum stripes i and j are applied to the folded over side flaps by rotary applicators 32 fixed toa shaft 33 that is driven by a gear 34, as hereinafter described.

From the gumming mechanism IV the blanks are carried to a bottom flap folding and sealing mechanism V. The mechanism shown is illustrated and fully described in Patent No. 3,088,382, issued May 7, 1963, to the assignee of the present application. Briefly, the mechanism includes complementary rollers 35 and 36, so that the bottom flap portions b are directed over a guide roller 37 and onto an inclined ramp 38 that deflects the bottom flap b of the envelope, to partially fold the blank upon the score line f. The lower roller 36 has vacuum ports 39 through which a vacuum is drawn to engage the blanks along the refractive side of the bottom flap scores f. The upper roller 35 constitutes a pressure roller having axially spaced apart peripheral portions 40 for contacting the blanks in offset relation with the gum stripes i and j to cooperate with the lower roller in feeding the blanks therebetween. The rollers 35 and 36 are mounted on shafts 41 and 42 having the ends thereof suitably journaled in the side frames 1111 of the machine. The suction through the ports 39 is effective on the body of the blank to carry the seized portion of the thickness.

back panel g therewith and under the guide roller 37 which cooperates with the peripheral face portions of the vacuum roller 36 in further bending the bottom flap b on the score f as the suction roller carries the blank around the periphery thereof and into contact with the under side of the guide roller 37. The grip of the rollers 36 and 37 on the blank is now sufficient to continue the feed thereof and the suction through the ports 39 is suspended so that the feed of the blank can continue upon a substantially horizontal guide 43 as the bottom flap is withdrawn from the ramp 38 and laid over the inturned side flaps d and e. In order to avoid double creasing of the fold thus produced, the guide roller 37 preferably has only the function of raising and folding the bottom flap b without pressing it against the adhesive 1' and j on the side flaps d and e, therefore, there is always a slight space maintained between the guide roller 37 and the suction roller 36 according to the paper The feed of the blanks continues across the guide 43 and the fold of the bottom flap is passed between a pair of pressing rollers 44 and 45 which crease the fold and press the bottom flap into positive sealing contact with the adhesive on the side flaps.

. From the bottom flap folding mechanism V, the feed of the blank continues to a top flap folding mechanism VI, which also forms a part of the above mentioned patent. The mechanism VI includes as a part thereof the lower pressing roller 45, an upwardly directed inclined pocket 46, and a pressure roller 47. The rollers 44, 45 and 47 are all mounted on transverse shafts 48, 49 and 5%, respectively, extending transversely of the machine and having ends thereof suitably mounted in the side frames 11-ll1. The pressure roller 45 is 'a suction roller having a plurality of suction ports 51 therein to engage the blank on the trailing side of the top flap score h to carry the closure flap portion upwardly into the pocket 46. As the'suction ports 51 in the roller 45 are carried downwardly through the rotation of the roller, a fold is produced along the score it to pull the fold downwardly between the rollers 45 and 47and into contact with a guide plate 52 into a pair of spiral conveyors 53 and 54 that respectively engage the ends of the completed envelopes and feed them onto a delivery table 55 into contact with previously folded blanks that are supported by a sliding hack stop 56 movable along the delivery table.

The spirals 53 and 54 are rotated from shafts 57 that are turned by gears 58 meshing with gears 59 and 60 on a transverse counter shaft 61 (FIG. 9). The shaft 61 is rotated by intermeshing gears 62 and 63. The gear 63 is on the power output shaft 63', of gearing in a gear box 64.

The segment and backing rollers 44 and conveyor chains, as well as the following blank conveying rollers of the machine, may be driven in the same manner as the corresponding rollers of a conventional envelope making machine, so that they operate at the same peripheral speeds.

The mechanism thus far described,with the exception of the individual scoring mechanisms I and II, are all old in the art of envelope making machines, and specifically form no part of the present invention. However, these mechanisms in a conventional machine are all interconnected with a common drive, so that when one of the mechanisms is adjusted for a certain size of envelope, all of the other mechanisms must be correspondingly and individually adjusted and readjusted in order that each operation is carried out in the required locations on the envelope blanks as the envelope blanks are conveyed through the machine. As above stated, these adjustments are difficult to make and require the'attention of a person highly skilled in the servicing of envelope making machines. Also, as above mentioned, the machine must be taken out of service for relatively long periods of time while the adjustments are being made.

The present invention is toprovide an improved drive regardless of the size of the envelopes to be run, if the envelope blanks are traveling through the machine at a constant rate of speed. Consequently, in accordance with the present invention, the driving connection for the mechanism V is also the driving connection for the mechanism I. Likewise, it has been discovered that with a second mechanism II for making the score h, the closure flap folding mechanism VI is always in synchronism therewith, therefore, these mechanisms are also connected by a common driving connection, and the only adjustment required in changing from one size of envelope to another is an adjustment between these two independent drives.

The side flap folding mechanism III, the side flap gumming mechanism IV and the spiral feeders 53 and 54 may be driven from either one or the other of the driving connections.

In making the adjustment, the position of the scoring blade 7 for the first scoring mechanism I may be considered a base to which the other driving mechanism is adjusted simply by turning the other driving mechanism to register with a zero marking for the first driving connection and advancing the second driving connection in the required direction to a position where the scoring blade 16 of the mechanism II is in position to'make the score in proper relation to the score h, for the size of envelope to be manufactured.

In carrying out this feature of the invention, one side of the machine may be provided With two parallel shafts 67 and 68. The shaft 68 extends along the machine from the scoring mechanism I to a point beyond the bottom flap folding mechanism V. The shaft 68 may be suitably journaled on the side frame of the machine in supporting brackets 69. The shaft 67 extends parallel with the shaft 68 from a point below the scoring mechanism II to adjacent the end of the shaft 68. The shaft 67 may also be journaled in suitable brackets 70, also carried by the side frame 11. Fixed to the shaft 68 is a gear 71 meshing with a gear 72 on a vertical shaft 73. The shaft 73 is also suitably journaled in bearing brackets 74 and carries a gear 75 meshing with a gear 76 driving the gearing 77 of the scoring mechanism I. The drive for the scoring rollers on the usual envelope making machine actuates the roller 7, while the lower roller, being rubber covered, turns by frictional pressure of the driven roller 7.

The corresponding end of the shaft 67 carries a gear 79 that meshes with a gear 80 on a vertical shaft 81, also suitably journaled in brackets 82. The upper end of the shaft 81 carries a gear 83 that meshes with a gear 84 driving the gearing 85 of the creasing or scoring mechanism II, so that the roller 14 is driven under power and the rubber covered lower roller turns responsive to frictional pressure therewith.

The forward portion of the shaft 68 carries a gear 87 fixed thereto which meshes with a gear 88 on a vertical shaft 89 journaled in bearing brackets 90. The shaft 89 has a gear 91 meshing with a gear 92 on the shaft 42 of the folding mechanism V.

The forward portion of the shaft 67 has a gear 93 meshing with a gear 94 on a vertical shaft 95. The shaft 95 is journaled in bearing brackets 96 carried by the side frame member 11. Fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 95 is a gear 97 that meshes with a gear 98 on the shaft 59 of the folding mechanism VI.

The shafts 67 and 68 are connected together by gears 99 and 100, both meshing with an idler gear 101. The idler gear 101 is freely rotatable on a stub shaft 102 journaled in a bearing bracket 103 on the side frame at a point intermediate the shafts 67 and 68, as shown in FIG. 2 and illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, whereby, when the shaft 67 is operated as later described the other shaft 68 will be driven in like direction.

The gear 99 has a hub 104 that is loose on the shaft 67, but which may be fixed thereto by fastening means, for example, set screws 105 and 106, as best shown in FIG. 10. The gear 99 also has a forwardly extending hub 107 carrying a zero graduation 108 (see FIG. 7). The shaft 67 projects through the hub 107 and fixed to the projecting end thereof is a hub 109 of a wheel 110, whereby the shaft 67 may be rotated independently of the shaft 68 when the set screws 105 and 106 are loosened in the hub 104. The wheel 110 thus constitutes the principal adjustment between the shafts 67 and 68. The hub of the wheel 110 may have a series of graduations to register with the zero mark 108. A driving shaft 65 extends along the side frame 11 and is actuated by a suitable motor (not shown). The shaft 67 is connected with the driving shaft 65, as now to be described.

Fixed on the driving shaft 65 is a bevel gear 11,1 that meshes with a bevel gear 112 on a counter shaft 113 that extends transversely of the machine and has its ends journaled in the side frames 1111. The shaft is also rotatably mounted in an intermediate standard 114. Loosely mounted on the shaft 113 is a sleeve 115 carrying sprockets 116. Operating over the sprockets 116 and over sprockets 117 on the counter shaft 30 are chains 118. Fixed to the sleeve 115 is a clutch member 119 that is engaged by a clutch member 120 slidably keyed to the shaft 113 to drive the sprockets 116 for turning the shaft 30. The clutch member 120 is moved into and out of driving engagement with the clutch member 119 by a recipricatory rod 121 actuated by a cam lever 122. The clutch members are normally kept in engagement by a spring 123 having one end bearing upon the side frame 11 and the other against a collar 124 on the rod 121.

The shaft 30 also has sprockets 125 fixed thereto for driving sprockets 126 on a shaft 127 through chains 128. The shaft 127 is journaled in a bearing 129 carried by the side frame 11. One end of the shaft 127 extends into the gear box 64 to actuate the gearing therein. The other end of the shaft 127 projects from the frame 11 and carries a bevel gear 130 meshing with a bevel gear 131 fixed to the shaft 67.

When the clutch members are disengaged, all the mechanisms of the machine may be operated by turning the shaft 30. This is effected through a wheel 132 on the shaft 30 i (see FIGS. 6 and 9).

If desired, fine adjustments may be made by providing one or more of the individual scoring and/ or folding mechanisms with an adjusting means as shown in FIG. 11. For example, instead of driving the shaft 42 of the folding mechanism directly from the bevel gear 92, the gear 92 may be fixed to a stub shaft 133, to which is fixed a spiral gear 134, meshing with a spiral gear 135 upon the shaft 42. In this case, the spiral gear 135 is slidably keyed to the shaft 42 by a key 136. Connected with the hub of the gear 135 is a collar 137 for a shifting fork 138. The shifting fork 138 is mounted on a threaded shaft 139 journally mounted in a bracket 140. The shaft is adapted to be turned by a knob 141 to slide the spiral gear 135 slightly relatively to the gear 134. This causes the spiral teeth of the gear 134 to slightly advance or retard the gear 135, depending upon the direction that the knob 141 is rotated.

The gear 34 previously referred to may be driven by any one of the drives, for example, it may be actuated by meshing thereof with a gear 142 upon the shaft 42 (FIG. 9.)

Assuming that the machine is to be adjusted for running a certain size of envelope, with the machine in operation the envelope blanks are delivered in successive timed sequence to the scoring and folding mechanisms 1-H and shaft 30 can now be turned in one or the other direction of rotation by turning the wheel 132;. This produces a corresponding turning movement of the shafts 127 and 67 a through the chain connections 128 and through the. intermeshing gears 136 and 131. Turning of the shaft 67 turns the shaft 68 through the gears 99, 101. and 100. Turning of the shaft 68 turns the shaft '73 through the gears 71 and 72. The gear 7 5 then drives the gear 76 to adjust the scoring rollers 7 and 8 to a position where the scoring blade '7' makes the score f in proper positionon the blank then located between the scoring rollers 7 and 3. The set screws 105 and 106 are then backed off to disconnect the gear 99 from the shaft 67. The shaft 67 is now turned by the wheel 11!) without turning the shaft 68. Turning of the shaft 67 in one or the other direction produces a corresponding movement in the shaft 81 to cause the gear 83 to turn the gear 84 and shaft 17 mounting the scoring roller 14 until the scoring blade 16 is in proper position to make the score h at the desired point in the blank that is then being conveyed between the scoring rollers 14 and 15.

This adjustment is effected without turning the shaft 68 and disrupting the setting of the first scoring rollers 7 and 8, since the shaft 67 turns freely within the hub of the gear 99. The adjustment to be made can be noted from the graduations on the hub 109 relatively to the marking 108 on the hub 167 of the gear 99.

Attention is directed to the fact that when the shaft 67 is adjusted to effect making of the score h, a corre- 1 sponding adjustment is made in the folding mechanism through the shaft95. Likewise, on the adjustment of the shaft 63 to position the scoring blade of the scoring roller 7, a corresponding adjustment was made in the folding mechanism V. Therefore, when the machine is in operation, the folding mechanisms V and VI make the folds of the top and bottom flaps exactly on the score lines f and it that were made by the scoring mechanisms 1' and II. After the adjustments are made, the gear 99 is reconnected with the shaft 67 by tightening of the set screws 105 and 1%. Any slight modification of the adjustment may 'be made directly at any one of the mechanisms I, II, III, IV, V and VI if the mechanisms are operated as shown in FIG. 1 1.

It is obvious that the scoring mechanism I and the folding mechanism V form one set of related mechanisms,

and thatthe scoring mechanism If and folding mechanism VI form another set of related mechanisms, and

each set is driven by a common means which in the il fl ustrated instance is the shafts 67 and 63 that are inter connected through the gears 1%1 and $9, so that When one of the sets is to be adjusted relatively to the other set, all that is required is to loosen the gear 99 and rotate the shaft 67 relatively to the other shaft 68. In this manner, the scoring mechanism of one set is easily and readily adjusted to the scoring mechanism of the other set, and a like adjustment is simultaneously 7 made between the folding mechanism V and the folding ing means relatively to the other driving means for varying spacing between the operations of the said mechanisms of one set with respect to the mechanisms of the other set.

2. In an envelope making machine,

means for advancing blanks at a predetermined speed and in predetermined relation through a fixed path,

.sets of related mechansims in the path' of the blanks to operate upon the blanks,

driving means interconnecting a mechanism of oneset with its related mechanism, separate driving means interconnecting a mechanism of the other set with its related mechanism,

means for advancing and backing up one of the driving means relatively to the other driving means for varying spacing between the operations of the mechanisms of one set with respect to the mechanisms of the other set,

a common driving means, and

means for actuating both of said driving means by said blank advancing means from said common driving means.

3. In an envelope making machine,-

means for advancing blanks through a fixed path, sets of related mechanisms in the path of the blanks to operate upon the blanks,

a driving connection interconnecting the mechanism of one set with its related mechanism, 7

a separate driving connection interconnecting the mechanism of the other set with its related mechanism,

said driving connections each including a shaft with the shafts for the driving connections being in spaced apart parallel relation,

a gear fixed to one of the shafts,

' a complementary gear on the other shaft,

means for selectively connecting and disconnecting th complementary gear to said other shaft, F

an idler gear having teeth meshing with teeth of both of said gears,

means fixed to the said other shaft to rotate the said other shaft independently of the one shaft when the complementary gear is loosened for advancing and backing up one of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other for varying spacing between the operations made'by the mechanisms of one set with respect to the mechanisms of the other set, and

a common driving means for said driving connections.

'4. A blank scoring and folding mechanism, including means for advancing the blank at a predetermined speed through a fixed path,

first and second scoring mechanisms in the path of the blank for making transverse spaced apart scores across the blank,

individual folding mechanisms in the path of the blank for. folding the blank along the transverse spaced apart scores,

a driving connection interconnecting the first scoring mechanism with a corresponding folding mechanism,

a separate driving connection interconnecting the second scoring me'chanismwith the other folding mech- V anism, and

means for advancing and backing up one of the driving connections relatively to the other for varying spacing between said scores and the folds that arermade therealong. r

5. A blank scoring and folding mechanism as described in claim 4, including 7 adjusting means associated with certain of said mechanisms for modifying the adjustment made by the said advancing and backing up means.

6. A blank scoring and folding mechanism, including individual folding mechanisms in the path of the blank for folding the blank along the transverse scores,

a driving connection interconnecting the first scoring mechanism with a corresponding folding mechanism,

a separate driving connection interconnecting the second scoring mechanism with the other folding mechanism,

- common means for advancing and backing up one of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other for adjusting spacing between said scores and the folds that are made therealong,

a common driving means, and means for actuating said driving connections from said common driving means. 7. A blank scoring and folding mechanism as descired in claim 6, including a fine adjustment associated with certain of said mechanisms for modifying the adjustment made by said common means. 8. A blank scoring and folding mechanism, including means for advancing the blank at a predetermined speed through a fixed path, first and second scoring mechanisms in the path of the blank for making transverse spaced apart scores across the blank, individual folding mechanisms in the path of the blank for folding the blank along the transverse scores, a driving connection interconnecting the first scoring mechanism with a corresponding folding mechanism, a separate driving connection interconnecting the second scoring mechanism with the other folding mechanism, said driving connections each including a shaft with t the shafts for the respective driving connections being in spaced apart parallel relation, a gear fixed to one shaft, a complementary gear on the other shaft, means for selectively connecting and disconnecting the complementary gear to said other shaft, an idler gear having teeth meshing with teeth of said gears for transmitting motion of one shaft to the other shaft, means fixed to the said other shaft to rotate the said other shaft independently of the one shaft when the complementary gear is disconnected from said other shaft for advancing and backing up said other shaft with respect to the one shaft for varying spacing between said scores and the folds that are made therealong, a common driving means, and means for actuating said driving connections by said common driving means. 9. A blank scoring mechanism as described in claim 8, wherein the complementary gear has a hub provided with a base designation, and said rotating means including a hand wheel having a hub provided wiht graduations related to the base designation for indicating the amount that one of the mechanisms is advanced or backed off relatively to the other. 10. A blank scoring and folding mechanism as described in claim 8, including a fine adjustment means associated with each of said mechanisms for modifying the adjustment made by said rotating means. 11. In an envelope making machine for making envelopes from blanks having top, bottom and side flaps,

means for advancing the envelope blanks at a predetermined speed and in predetermined relation through a fixed path, separate scoring mechanisms in the path of the blanks for scoring the top and bottom flaps, means in the path of the blanks for folding over the side flaps,

means following the side flap folding means for applying an adhesive to the side flaps,

a mechanism in the path of the blanks for folding the bottom flap over the adhesive on the side flaps at the point of score of the bottom flap,

a separate mechanism in said path for folding the top flaps on the top flap scores,

a driving connection interconnecting the bottom flap scoring mechanism with the bottom flap folding mechanism,

a separate driving connection interconnecting the top flap scoring mechanism with the top flap folding mechanism, and

means for advancing and backing up one of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other of said driving mechanisms for varying spacing between said scores and the folds that are made therealong.

12. In an envelope making machine for making envelopes from blanks having top and bottom flaps,

means for advancing the envelope blanks at a predetermined speed and in predetermined relation through a fixed path,

separate scoring mechanisms in the path of the blanks for scoring the top and bottom flaps,

a mechanism in the path of the blanks for folding the bottom flap at the point of score of the bottom flap,

a separate mechanism in said path for folding the top flaps on the top flap scores,

a driving connection interconnecting the bottom flap scoring mechanism with the bottom flap folding mechanism,

a separate driving connection interconnecting the top flap scoring mechanism with the top flap folding mechanism,

said driving connections each including a shaft with the shafts for the driving connections being in spaced apart parallel relation,

a gear fixed to one shaft,

a complementary gear on the other shaft,

means for selectively disconnecting and connecting the complementary gear to the said other shaft,

an idler gear having teeth meshing with teeth of said gears,

means fixed to the said other shaft for rotating the said other shaft independently of the one shaft when the complementary gear is disconnected for advancing and backing up one of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other for varying spacing between said scores and the folds that are made therealong, and

means for actuating one of said driving connections to actuate the other driving connection through said gears after the complementary gear is connected with its shaft.

13. In an envelope making machine for making envelopes from blanks having top and bottom flaps as described in claim 12, wherein said complementary gear has a base marking, and

the said rotating means has a hub provided with graduations representing spacing from the top and bottom flap scores.

14. In an envelope making machine for making envelopes from blanks having top, bottom and side flaps,

means for advancing the envelope blanks through a fixed path,

separate scoring mechanisms in the path of the blanks for scoring the top and bottom flaps,

means in the path of the blanks for folding over the side flaps,

means following the side flap folding means for applying an adhesive to the side flaps,

a mechanism in the path of the blanks for folding the bottom flap over the adhesive on the side flaps along the line of score of the bottom flap,

a separate mechanism in said path for folding the top flaps along the top flap scores,

a driving connection interconnecting the bottom flap scoring mechanism with the bottom flap folding mechanism,

another driving connection interconnecting the top flap scoring mechanism with the top flap folding mechanism,

said driving connections each including a shaft with the shafts for the driving connections being in spaced apart parallel relation,

a gear fixed to one shaft,

a complementary gear on the other shaft,

means for selectively connecting the complementary gear to said other shaft,

an idler gear having teeth meshing with teeth of the two first-mentioned gears,

means fixed to the said other shaft to rotate the said other shaft independently of the one shaft when the complementary gear is loosened for advancing and backing up one of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other for varying spacing between said scores and the folds that are made therealong,

driving means for actuating one of said driving connections,

the other driving connection being driven through said gears after the complementary gear is connected with its shaft, and

means for actuating the side flap folding and adhesive applying mechanisms.

15. In an envelope making machine, the combination of means for advancing blanks through a fixed path,

sets of related mechanisms in the path of the blanks to operate upon the blanks,

a driving connection interconnecting the mechanism of one set with its related mechanism,

a separate driving connection interconnecting the mechnism of the other set to its related mechanism,

coupling means between said driving connections,

means for disconnecting said coupling means for advancing and backing up one set of the mechanisms relatively to the other set of mechanisms for varying spacing between the operations made by one set with respect to the mechanisms of the other set,

a main driving shaft for the envelope making machine,

means for actuating one of said driving connections from the main driving shaft toactuate the other of said driving connections by said coupling means, and

a clutch in said actuating means for disconnecting the driving from the main shaft when varying the spacing between operations made by one set of mechanisms with respect to the mechanisms of the other set.

16. In and envelope making machine, the combination of means for advancing blanks through a fixed path,

sets of related mechanisms in the path of the blanks to operate upon the blanks,

a driving connection interconnecting the mechanism of one set with its related mechanism,

32 a separate driving connection interconnecting the mechnism of the other set to its related mechanism, coupling means between said driving connections, means for disconnecting saidcoupling means for advancing and backing up one set of the mechanisms relatively to the other set of mechanisms for varying spacing between the operations of the mechanisms of said one set with respect to the mechanisms of the other set, a main driving shaft for the envelope making machine, means for actuating one of said driving connections from the main driving shaft to actuate the other of said driving connections through the coupling means, and a clutch in said actuating means for disconnecting the drive from the main shaft, and means connected with said actuating means for positioning said other set of mechanisms prior to disconnection of said coupling means. I 17. In an envelope making machine, the combination of means for advancing blanks through a fixed path, sets of related mechanisms in the path of the blanks to operate upon the blanks, a driving connection interconnecting the mechanisms of one set, a separate driving connection interconnecting the mechanisms of the other set, said driving connections each including a shaft with the shafts for the driving connections being in spaced I apart parallel relation,

a gear fixed to one of the shafts, a complementary gear on the other shaft, means, for selectively connecting and disconnecting the complementary gear to said other shaft, an idler gear having teeth meshing with teeth of said gears, means fixed to one of said shafts to rotate said shaft independently of the other shaft when the complementary gear is loosened for advancing and backing up one set of the driving mechanisms relatively to the other set of mechanisms for varying spacing between the operations made by one set with respect to the operations of the other set, means for actuating one of said shafts, a main driving shaft for the envelope making machine, means connecting the main driving shaft with said actuating means, and a clutch in said last named connecting means for disconnecting the main shaft during adjustment of said first named shafts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,663 5/18 I-Iuguelet 9363 2,696,255 12/54 Heywood. 2,983,201 5/61 Winkler et al. 9362 FRANK E, BAILEY, Primary Examiner. 

3. IN AN ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE, MEANS FOR ADVANCING BLANKS THROUGH A FIXED PATH, SETS OF RELATED MECHANISMS IN THE PATH OF THE BLANKS TO OPERATE UPON THE BLANKS, A DRIVING CONNECTION INTERCONNECTING THE MECHANISM OF ONE SET WITH ITS RELATED MECHANISM, A SEPARATE DRIVING CONNECTION INTERCONNECTING THE MECHANISM OF THE OTHER SET WITH ITS RELATED MECHANISM, SAID DRIVING CONNECTIONS EACH INCLUDING A SHAFT WITH THE SHAFTS FOR THE DRIVING CONNECTIONS BEING IN SPACED APART PARALLEL RELATION, A GEAR FIXED TO ONE OF THE SHAFTS, A COMPLEMENTARY GEAR ON THE OTHER SHAFT, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING THE COMPLEMENTARY GEAR ON THE OTHER SHAFT, AN IDLER GEAR HAVING TEETH MESHING WITH TEETH OF BOTH OF SAID GEARS, MEANS FIXED TO THE SAID OTHER SHAFT TO ROTATE THE SAID OTHER SHAFT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ONE SHAFT WHEN THE COMPLEMENTARY GEAR IS LOOSENED FOR ADVANCING AND BACKING UP ONE OF THE DRIVING MECHANISMS RELATIVELY TO THE OTHER FOR VARYING SPACING BETWEEN THE OPERATIONS MADE BY THE MECHANISMS OF ONE SET WITH RESPECT TO THE MECHANISMS OF THE OTHER SET, AND A COMMON DRIVING MEANS FOR SAID DRIVING CONNECTIONS. 